Walters named to NAIA national all-tournament team

The University of Jamestown's Mason Walters was one of 10 men's basketball players named to the 2021 NAIA national championship all-tournament team.

The team, which included two players from championship-winning Shawnee State (Ohio) and three players from championship runner-up Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), was released following Tuesday's championship game in Kansas City. Shawnee State defeated Lewis-Clark State 74-68 at KC's Municipal Auditorium.

In four national tournament games, Walters averaged 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 66% from the field. The 6-foot-9 Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year led the Jimmies to victories over Bellevue University (Nebraska), No. 3-ranked Louisiana State University-Shreveport and No. 7-ranked Faulkner University (Alabama) while falling to eventual national champion Faulkner in the national quarterfinals last Saturday in Kansas City.

It was the second time in as many trips to the national tournament in which the Jimmies' season came to an end at the hands of the eventual national champion. In 2019, UJ fell to NAIA Division II champion Spring Arbor University (Michigan) in the round of 16.

Tuesday in Kansas City, the Shawnee State Bears shot just shy of 40 percent from 3-point range to win the 83rd Annual NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship.

Shawnee State went back and forth with Lewis-Clark State for the opening minutes but pulled away beginning with a 3-pointer from James Jones to give the Bears a 20-15 lead with 9:59 remaining in the first half. Jones, a senior from Chicago, posted 27 points and 10 rebounds as he led all players in both categories. Jones, who scored 31 in the Bears' 76-65 quarterfinal victory over the Jimmies, was later named the NAIA National Championship MVP.

NAIA Mens' Basketball Championship

At Kansas City, Missouri

2021 National Championship Tournament

All-Tournament Team: Mason Walters, Jamestown; TreVion Crews, Bethel (Ind.); Damek Mitchell, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); Trystan Bradley, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); Hodges Bailey, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); Zach Wrightsil, Loyola (La.); Joel Polius, SAGU (Texas); Antwaan Cushingberry, Saint Francis (Ind.); James Jones, Shawnee State (Ohio); EJ Onu, Shawnee State (Ohio).

Chuck Tayler Most Valuable Player: James Jones, Shawnee State (Ohio).

Charles Stevenson Hustle Award: Antwaan Cushingberry, Saint Francis (Ind.).

Charles Krigel Award: Stacey Hollowell, Loyola (La.).

Chuck Walden Memorial Trophy: Davis Block, Block & Co. (Honorary Coach)/Kennhertz Perry Attorneys (Honorary Athletic Directors).

Frank Cramer Award: David Block & Co.

(Tournament seeded/records in parentheses)

ROUND OF 16

MARCH 18

NAISMITH BRACKET

G1: (16) Bethel, Ind. 83, (1) Indiana Wesleyan 77

G2: (9) Saint Francis, Ind. 67, (8) Stillman, Ala. 67

CRAMER BRACKET

G3: (5) Shawnee State, Ohio 69, (12) Bethel, Kan. 59

G4: (13) Jamestown 88, (4) Faulkner, Ala. 83

MARCH 19

DUER BRACKET

G5: (14) Lewis-Clark State 86, (3) Oklahoma Wesleyan 72

G6: (11) Loyola, La. 69, (6) Marian, Ind. 62

LISTON BRACKET

G7: (7) SAGU, Texas 90, (10) Morningside, Iowa 80

G8: (15) Carroll, Mont. 85, (2) William Penn, Iowa 62

QUARTERFINALS

MARCH 20

NAISMITH BRACKET

G9: Saint Francis, Ind. 89, Bethel, Ind. 81

CRAMER BRACKET

G10: Shawnee State 76, Jamestown 65

DUER BRACKET

G11: Lewis-Clark State, Idaho 75, (3) Loyola, La. 70.

LISTON BRACKET

G12: SAGU, Texas 73, Carroll, Mont. 65

SEMIFINALS

MARCH 22

G13: Shawnee State, Ohio 82, Saint Francis, Ind. 77

G14: Lewis-Clark State, Idaho 83, SAGU, Texas 56

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MARCH 23

G15: Shawnee State, Ohio 74, Lewis-Clark State, Idaho 68